Soul Vibration-1

by Dr Solo, Michaela M. (Editor), Hobbitsflower Yolanda Pickle Pengie (Translator)

Welcome back my boss
Welcome back my dream
Welcome back my life
--The 26-Year-Old Boy in A Baseball Cap.

Talented Bassist X Indie Singer-songwriter,
Idol x Fanboy,
Rock Star x Assistant,
Straight x Straight
From admiration to love.

This novel describes the daily lives of a chart-topping rock band, LOTUS, told from the perspective of the bassist's personal assistant.
Independent singer-songwriter Chi Nan had to give up on his music dream after finding out about his incurable hearing defect. At the depths of his despair, the bassist of his favourite band, LOTUS, bought the rights to all his songs and made him his personal assistant.
“Even if I become completely deaf, I can't break free from myself. Even if half of me grows old, the other half will always remain within the dream named Rock and roll, the dream named Teenage Dream, named Salinger.”

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, LGBT, M M Romance

366 pages, Paperback

Published December 2, 2024

Reviews

[kay! ☾ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I read the lyrics again. Salinger said it’s about lovers being separated from their first love while missing each other, but I read it more like the singer missing someone for the first time and starting to wonder if this is love.”

⋆｡ ﾟ☁︎︎ ｡ ✧ ⋆ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 stars 🍓｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡ ⋆

i have read countless danmei over the past three+ years but soul vibration is the singular danmei that stayed with me the longest. i don’t even know why, honestly, other that i deeply resonated with the characters and their journey.

this first volume (out of three) is slow—which is an overarching thing when it comes to this danmei. it’s slow. exciting things happen but for the most part it’s very much character-focused rather than plot focused.

chi nan is our MC, an aspiring musician who unfortunately can no longer be a musician due to issues with his ears. if he keeps working toward his dream like how he did in the past, he’ll lose his hearing completely. the dream he was fighting valiantly went away and yet, becoming an assistant for his idol salinger coincidentally allowed that dream to blossom.

a big chunk of this volume and the other two dives into the relationship between salinger and chi nan. i’ve seen reviews that say the romance is such a small part of these novels…but tbh i think the heart of soul vibration lies in the romance. the yearning (which is delicious) is never in your face. and i understand why some wouldn’t care for that but i ate it right up. every time i reread these books i still want to swoon at the quiet love language salinger has specifically for chi nan.

i really think the two of them are soulmates because they get each other. explicitly and implicitly, salinger and chi nan vibrate on the same frequency. i think that’s why their budding love hits me so hard because salinger and chi nan absolutely have an invisible string tied to both of their pinkies, right from the first interaction between the two of them it’s so obvious.

i definitely wish more people will give soul vibration a chance!!!! this danmei is such a comfort read for me. it’s sweet and humorous and melancholy and heartwarming. this first volume lays the groundwork of both the characters and romance, but if you look close enough you will see that there is plenty of romantic moments between salinger and chi nan. i absolutely lose it over whenever salinger and chi nan does something sweet for each other

anyways!!! pls. go read soul vibration. if you like entertainment danmei or just danmei that goes heavy into the life of a musician, pick this up! if you want a novel full of multifaceted and lovable characters, pick this up! the subtle yearning in this danmei will never fail to make me lose my mind 😭

[V~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.4/5 🌟

I started out crying and bawling my eyes out. I laughed. I was in awe by the beautiful writing. However, now I'm beyond pissed! There's do much going through my head right now, I don't even know how to react!

I felt so angry at the end. I thought I understood Salinger, but he just ended up breaking my baby's heart. He crushed mine in the process.

I feel like this volume started off really strong. I really like Chi Nan. I think he's a cutie. I feel so sad for him and this volume made me have feelings I never knew I could feel. It has a very mellow feel. But when it's happy, it's really happy.

I am looking forward to seeing how their story will develop. I'm excited to see how heartbreaking it'll be as Chi Nan's hearing begins to fade.

Wanting a POV of Salinger, please!

Also, can we talk about SLOOOOW BURN!!!! I'm not cooked yet! I'm still raw! I need more flames!

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.8

The ending of vol 1 just made me upset. I'll make a full review after volume 3

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A surprise new favorite 🎶🎼🎵. I have zero musical knowledge/talent so I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy this but it was so good I read it in a day. It’s a very slow burn M/M but I have loved the development of their relationship. This is book 1 of 3 and I immediately bought the next two. It’s written in 1st person present tense which is a little different but easy to get used to especially since the MC is so likable.

[grayi ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This danmei novel took me backstage and into the whirlwind of the rockstar life, and it's so refreshing, having a ML who truly embodies that rockstar image (flaws and all).

As a fellow fangirl, I completely resonated with Chi Nan. The author captures the emotional roller coaster of being a fan: the excitement, the nerves, the constant analysis of every word uttered by your idol. And following Chi Nan's perspective makes Salinger all the more captivating.

The beauty lies in the complexity of Chi Nan's admiration. It's clear that music itself holds a special place in his heart, almost inseparable from his admiration towards Salinger. For Chi Nan, his love for music and Salinger are so intertwined that they basically become synonyms, interchangeable and constantly growing.

[⋆ ࣪˖ ִֶָ sel ་༘࿐ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t really know what I was getting into when I started 灵魂骚动, I just knew it had the "fanboy x musician" trope, and I was curious. But as I read, I found myself completely drawn in. The slowburn is truly slowburning, but I’m savoring every second of it.

Volume 1 is mostly seen through rose-colored glasses, filtered through Chi Nan’s POV, especially his deep admiration for LOTUS, and most of all, for Salinger. But every now and then, there are these beautifully written, melancholic soliloquies that cut through the haze. You can feel how he’s using that idolization to block out the pain: the fear of losing his hearing completely, the possibility of losing his place beside the band, and the one thing that still connects him to the world: music. The writing captures all of this with such quiet grace. Even the mundane moments—meals, rehearsals, small conversations—are filled with life. And where there is life, there is also love.

Chi Nan resonated with me deeply. I also used to be a singer competing, but I had to stop because of other priorities. I also have some hearing issues now, so his experience of gradually losing his hearing hit very close to home. It feels like drowning. And yet, I admire him so much because he never gives up. He adapts, he copes, and most of all, he keeps going. He’s quiet, but full of strength.

On the other hand, Salinger is painted in an idealized light by Chi Nan, but at the same time, he deserves it. Sure, he can be a bit of an asshole to which he knows it himself. But he’s far more thoughtful and aware than most people realize. His kindness isn’t loud. It’s in the way he does things rather than says them. I feel like a delulu fangirl most of the time when he and Chi Nan share scenes together. I analyze every tiny interaction and read into the crumbs like they’re gospel. Because again, girl, the slowburn! Just let them kiss already! Just kidding, unless?

I also adore the rest of the band. There’s so much personality in the way they’re written, and the group dynamic adds warmth and texture to Chi Nan’s world. Overall, this volume was quietly moving to me. I can’t wait to see where Chi Nan and Salinger’s story goes from here.

[Fudanshi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Y’all.

I ♥️ This Book! I feel it is definitely an underdog of the Danmei world. And also under appreciated.

Salinger x Chi Nan 🤗

If you were questioning picking up this book. Just pick it up, I doubt you’ll be disappointed. Especially if you love a slow burn. This is by far, moving at a snails pace, but not too slow that you get bored.

[Queens Love Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Sometimes it’s not easy to find inspiration when you’re too close to your idols, because there’s a sense of satisfaction. You think your dreams have been fulfilled and you start slacking. Inspiration will only come when you push. Comfort cannot breed good work."



I almost rated this 5 stars if not for the last few frustrating chapters. But I get that it’s meant to be that way. The writing is impeccable—vivid and detailed, making it easy to picture each scene unfolding right in front of me. That level of immersion is rare, and I appreciated it. However, there were moments when the characters or certain situations frustrated me so much that I wanted to DNF. But I know that frustration is a “me” problem and not a fault of the author's storytelling.

This review is based solely on how I felt while reading the book. It’s hard to fully judge a story with multiple volumes, especially when it feels like things are intentionally left unresolved or ambiguous. I suspect that what appears frustrating now may actually hold deeper significance or lead to major revelations in the later books. That’s the only reason I pushed myself to finish it instead of walking away during those tense final chapters—I can sense there’s more beneath the surface waiting to be uncovered.

Despite my personal challenges with some plot points, I loved about 90% of this book. The characters are layered, the emotional moments hit hard, and there’s a feeling of tension throughout that keeps you hooked. If you're patient and willing to trust the journey, I think this series will reward you. I'm definitely sticking around to find out where it goes next.

Date Read: 2025.02.06

[noorii · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is first-person POV. Did I give up? No, I tried to read it regardless. It’s the perfect fanboy/fangirl book where you get to 'work' with your idol. I'm 37% into the book, and it's mostly a fanboy idolizing his idol.

Am I being too harsh? I don't know. This is just how I feel about book one. The main character is going through something significant (losing his hearing).

I'm dropping it. I ordered the paperback copy before I read it—what a waste—but at least the books are pretty.

[Toni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Young musician Chi Nan has struggled over the years to make his dreams of being a singer and songwriter come true. Then, when he finally catches a break, tragedy strikes in the form of an ear lesion that is slowly deteriorating his hearing and will eventually destroy it completely. Slipping into a pit of uncertainty and grief, Chi Nan is suddenly saved when Salinger, the bassist of his favorite band, Lotus, purchases the copyright for all his songs and hires him to be his assistant as repayment. The story, told in a series of overlapping flashbacks and connected one-shots, follows Chi Nan as he works for one of the most popular Asian rock bands. He also continues to write and record songs while he still has his hearing, and his proximity to Salinger (along with minutely increasing feelings for him) feeds his passion -- even as he gradually loses his ability to appreciate the very sounds he loves.

This is the second time I've come across a dichotomy of this sort: I don't like the abstract writing style, and the plot is a little too chaotic for my liking...and yet, I really like the two male leads. They kept me reading and even compelled me to continue the series. Chi Nan borders on naive, but it's a sweet flaw that, combined with his unwavering positivity and gratitude, makes you root for him the entire time. Meanwhile, Salinger is a complete enigma, and his lack of emotional expression, generally aloof attitude, and sometimes harsh bluntness don't necessarily endear him to readers. However, it's those brief instances when he shows true kindness or reveals his passion for music that really draw you in. (It's also cute to watch Chi Nan painstakingly thaw him.) The secondary characters definitely feel like they're only there to further the plot, but they're not completely flat. I do, however, find the dynamics between the LOTUS band members to be odd; half the time, it seems like they don't get along! Then, an event will happen that solidifies their faith in one another, and they go back to their strange "friendship." So, while not the best danmei novel I've read, if you appreciate an incredibly slow-burn romance where you can almost literally watch the sand grains of initial attraction begin to build up, this first volume is not a bad way to scratch that itch.

[Miele ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ★★★★☆ (3.7–4/5)

⸻

📜 Brief Summary:

Chi Nan used to dream of music — until a progressive hearing defect turned that dream into a burden. After quietly resigning himself to a life offstage, everything changes when Salinger, the bassist from LOTUS (Chi Nan’s favorite band), unexpectedly purchases the rights to his compositions… and offers him a job as his personal assistant.

Suddenly immersed in the high-stakes world of idols, producers, music shows, and fan scrutiny, Chi Nan is forced to confront both his own insecurities and the emotional echoes of his past. But under the pressure, something begins to shift — in Salinger, in Chi Nan, and in the unspoken space between them.

Told entirely through Chi Nan’s first-person narration, Soul Vibration is a slow-burn romance built on silence, survival, and the rare kind of attention that begins to sound a lot like love.


“The more pain you endure, the longer you’d go. So don’t be afraid of pain.”

This quote appears early, in a flashback scene where Chi Nan is beaten by jealous kids simply for hanging around a music studio. And yet, he endures. This single line captures the undercurrent of Soul Vibration: a story about survival, emotional repression, and the long, slow journey toward letting someone else in.

I came into this having just finished the Dawning trilogy — another showbiz-centered danmei — so I expected Soul Vibration to feel familiar. It didn’t. The tone and writing style feel incredibly smooth, to the point I found myself just reading, no chapter-bar checking, no mental bookmarks — just flowing through it. That alone sets it apart from a lot of other serialized danmei I’ve read.

However, there’s one technical flaw that broke this smoothness: the flashbacks. They’re constant in Volume 1, and their transitions are rough. Often you don’t know if you’re back in the present or still inside Chi Nan’s memories — and 75% of the time, you’re still in the past without clear signals. I suspect this may be partly due to the translation (Via Lactea Ltd), since I encountered similar disorientation in Dawning too. Either way, it’s something that could use serious clean-up.


Now… let’s talk about Salinger.
Even though the book is told entirely from Chi Nan’s POV, you can absolutely tell the exact moment Salinger starts to fall for him. The attention to detail is remarkable — from the way he instinctively hands Chi Nan noise-canceling headphones at the airport to protect his damaged hearing, to adjusting his musical notes mid-performance to fit Chi Nan’s comfort range, to how anxious he gets anytime Chi Nan disappears from his sight (the Japan arc is a personal favorite — peak protective Salinger). There’s even a moment where he steps in to shield Chi Nan from a controlling manager, and I was basically screaming internally.

He’s attentive without being overbearing, and that makes his character incredibly compelling.

“If people don’t like you, forget it. You think you can force someone who doesn’t like you to like you by doing all this?”

Another quote — this one from Salinger — hits hard in the context of Chi Nan’s past and self-perception. There’s emotional weight in these small moments, and Soul Vibration handles those well.


One odd note I have (pun intended): the music lyrics in the story… kind of make no sense. I’m not sure if it’s a translation issue or something that got lost adapting the poetry into English, but especially the lyrics Chi Nan writes (e.g. “The 26-Year-Old Boss in a Baseball Cap”) feel clunky or just plain weird. The emotional intent is there, but the execution doesn’t land.

Despite these flaws, this is still a strong opening volume for a slow-burn romance rooted in healing, music, and emotional visibility. The relationship dynamic is beautifully paced, and it’s refreshing to see emotional intimacy develop without relying on drama or miscommunication.

I’m looking forward to seeing how their bond continues to unfold — and to more moments where Salinger shows that Chi Nan doesn’t have to face the world alone anymore.


✅ Final Verdict:

Not perfect, but very promising. Strong emotional arcs, lovable leads, and the kind of slow burn that simmers instead of drags.
3.7 to 4/5 — and rising, if the next volume keeps this up.

[lulu · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Final review here
__________

(I'll rate once I finish all three volumes)

I wasn't sure what to expect of this novel. While I do love stories about musicians, I'm not a big fan of novels within the entertainment business. For my relief, at least in this first volume the business side of things doesn't take over the plot. The pacing is tranquil, and we navigate the daily lives of our characters with no rush.

Our MC, Chi Nan, is a singer-songwriter who finds out he's losing his hearing a little after taking his first big step as a professional. He gets a chance to become the personal assistant of his favorite musician, our ML Salinger, and that's where our story begins.

For most part of this volume I felt like there was a wall between me and the characters. The story is told in first person and even so I felt somewhat distant from Chi Nan. I started to get a better grip of his personality as he interacted more with Salinger and I could see more of him (CN) through someone else's eyes. I've grown quite attached to him.Even though he's a tragic character, it's hard to pity him because he doesn't pity himself. His love of music is so palpable that I'm happy for him to be able to write one more song, to witness his idol playing one more time. I'm not ready to see him lose the one thing he loves the most.

As for Salinger... he's still a mystery. There are two layers to get to his character: first, because this novel is only from Chi Nan's POV, we get very little from Salinger. He's a brooding, quiet person who offers very little insight into what he's thinking. He and Chi Nan are not that close yet, so we have to interpret a lot from a few words and actions. And here comes the second layer: Chi Nan's views on Salinger are extremely biased, since he's such a big fanboy. So we're stuck with knowing very little about Salinger and not being able to trust much of that information.

What I can affirm is that Salinger definitely cares for Chi Nan in a special way. The nature of that care I cannot assume (and I don't believe it is romantic yet), but he respects and values Chi Nan as a fellow musician. They are not intimate, but when it comes to music, they just click: it's like their souls understand each other with no need for translation.

In case it's not obvious, this is very much a slow burn. I'm eager to see the romance blossom and a little apprehensive too, because most likely what will draw them closer is Chi Nan's impending deafness.

[Xantababy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since there are three books listed here on Goodreads. I separated my review by volume.

Volume 1 of Soul Vibration was amazing. The story started quite strong. I got hooked again as I did the first time I read the sample of vol 1, especially on Salinger. Salinger kept me reading. He became my idol as well as I was reading volume 1. I got carried away by Chi Nan's emotions and love how he looked up to Salinger as his idol. There were some typos in volume 1, which I already expected from reading the sample, but the one that made me confuse the most was the lyrics of the song. I imagined Chi Nan to be a hidden talent, but after reading the lyrics, the image disintegrated. 😅 Thankfully, I found the audio drama ost and got past it quickly because the songs were amazing. The lyrics weren't the same though. By the end of volume 1, my heart slowly leaned towards Chi Nan. At first, I want to hear LOTUS’ songs, but by the end, I just want to listen to Nan sing. 😌 For some reason, although Salinger is talented, kind-hearted, and just plain hot, because he is such a playboy, I don’t think he deserves Chi Nan if ever they do get together. 🤔

PS. I wish the translators maintained the name Shi Tou instead of using the English word Stone; after all, they retained the use of all the Chinese names. No need to translate just one. 😕

[Akansha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across this danmei randomly on reddit and bought the ebook on a whim! And boy am I happy about my decision. This was so cute. It's quite soft hearted and a warm story about a band and idols, being fans and worshipping celebs. Told from Chin Nan (a fan) pov we see how he slowly navigates through the realisation that he might be going deaf in one year and won't be able to create music anymore. That brings him to an alternate way of living his dream via being assistant to his idol.

I love how the story explores team dynamics (I never believe that any band is as close as we see on sm). For the MCs we learn a lot about Chin Nan but there isn't much about Salinger and his past. There isn't romance in this volume as I think our MCs have probably still not come to terms with being anything other than straight (at least one of them).

Even without romance there are subtle hints in the last 100 pages and I loved those moments, especially them bonding over their love for music. There is also more drama incoming and I am also excited to see if Chin Nan would actually lose his hearing and how he would eventually work through it.

[Nerys Medina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The summary caught my attention, the narrative kept my interest.
The story is simple, but the way you can experience things through Nan, and the way the reader can slowly piece together small little details about the one Nan admires the most, Salinger (or Lin Sai, which funnily enough I remember better than the stage name), It's a mix of wholesome and bittersweet moments.

A sad moment here, inspiring words there, a sprinkle of breathtaking interactions, and a touch of nervousness. All these things are put together, and there are still two more vols to read. Let's see where this story will take me on vol 2, and if its conclusion will be a hit or miss for me on vol 3.

Wish me luck.

[diane martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story, great storytelling!

I purchased this three book series after reading the short sample and it was well worth the money. I could have read it free but wanted to support the writer. It is a slowly developing romance within the insular setting of Southeast Asian entertainment industry. The writer knows enough about music, rock n roll, people, and apparently, the industry to make the characters and the occurrences feel real and relatable. Next time ,please put the footnotes words also with the definitions and maybe a link from the footnote to them. Thank you for a great read.

[Chloe ⋆·˚ ༘ * · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The more pain you endure, the longer you'd go. So don't be afraid of pain."

3.75 stars - cute, fun read with plenty of touching moments. Chi Nan was a very likeable perspective to follow, from his optimism and how he supported Salinger and LOTUS so sincerely. Salinger was nice too, albeit a little too nice to everyone haha. The music-focused scenes were probably my favourite, seeing both Chi Nan and Salinger's creative process.

[Bea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a slow beginning, but the story picked up during the second half of this volume and I started enjoying it more. I don't really mind the slice of life nature of the story.

Chi Nan's tendency to slightly exaggerate the foreshadowing has stressed me out a few times, I admit. But I did enjoy seeing Salinger being Salinger, and you get hints of his growing feelings here and there. Chi Nan is, of course, oblivious!

Will read the other volumes at a later date for sure.

[Eve Healy]

Spoiler-Included Review

[珊 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Ta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and slow. Not really in all the idol stuff, but it's still a nice, smooth journey with pleasant character moments and good relationship development.

[ry · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25

[noa A]

It just didn't work for me

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

it's nice that we're in a slow burn(?). chi nan actually being a fan of salinger and not being like head over heels in love with him from the jump is nice.

[DASHUNTSEL · Rating 5 out of 5]

The whole book felt like a love letter to music.

[Ale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ganas del siguiente volumen 😍😍.

La historia se desarrolla en el mundo del entretenimiento. Chi Nan es un compositor, mientras que Salinger es el bajista del grupo LOTUS.

Diría que profundiza en el mundo de los idols, sobre todo porque Chi Nan se convierte en el asistente de Salinger. Así, vemos sus horarios, el proceso de creación de sus canciones y los problemas que tienen como banda, entre otros.

En el lado romántico, es un slow burn, puesto que en el primer tomo solo vemos cómo ambos comienzan a acercarse. Aun así, vemos muchos momentos adorables entre ellos. Me atrevería a decir que las portadas dicen bastante sobre su desarrollo como pareja.

[Insha · Rating 3 out of 5]

i am sure this book and the next ones in this series is much more enjoyable to those who know know a thing or two about music.

[Carly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yawn. A lot of nothing happens in this book, which reminds the narrator of other times when nothing happened.

The musicianship and hearing loss were just… completely unbelievable.

It did end with a vague sense of me being curious about what’s next so I gave it two stars.